(Sportsbooks) - If any team needs a repeat of 2008, it is the
Carolina Panthers.
Fresh off a 12-4 campaign that saw them win the NFC South, the Panthers return 21 of their 22 starters from last year minus cornerback Ken Lucas, who was cut for salary cap reasons. And those 21 players better be as good as last season, because Carolina didn't have much cap room to add depth or upgrade at any position.
Instead, the Panthers will hope that last year's core can rebound from the 33-13 defeat it suffered versus Arizona in last year's NFC Divisional playoff round. Most notably, quarterback Jake Delhomme will need to forget his six- turnover debacle that included five interceptions and a lost fumble.
That performance didn't stop the Panthers from giving Delhomme a five-year contract extension in the offseason that reportedly netted the quarterback $20 million guaranteed.
Add in a new six-year deal for left tackle Jordan Gross and a franchise tender signed by defensive end Julius Peppers worth close to $17 million, and the Panthers had little money to play with this offseason. In fact, not only did Carolina lose several key backups, but it failed to add a single veteran backup at any position.
"We didn't have an extreme amount of cap room, so we weren't real active in free agency," said head coach John Fox. "But we did everything possible to keep the guys that we have that are our kind of guys, guys that we feel like perform at a high level. That's where the bulk of our cap room went -- to keep our own. We relied on the draft, and that's what we're here for."
The bad news for the Panthers on that front was that they did not have a first-round pick in this year's draft, but they were able to get good value with the picks they did have.
Fox said a lack of high-profile depth is the price a club has to pay to retain proven talent. He also knows his club can't make it on veterans alone.
"There is no question that one of the secrets to success in this league is developing young players, and we'll definitely have that work cut out for us," the head coach said. "I think we've got good, young guys that aren't afraid to work, and we'll see how that progress goes."
While the Panthers might be harming themselves in the long run, it is tough to argue with a scheme of bringing back a starting group that had the third-best ground game last year on one side and was ranked 12th in scoring defense on the other.
It makes sense, then, that the defense is the unit that saw the bulk of Carolina's minor upgrades this season, including the addition of new defensive coordinator in Ron Meeks.
Now the Panthers just have to hope no one gets hurts.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Carolina Panthers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2008 RECORD: 12-4 (1st, NFC South)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Arizona, 33-13, in NFC Divisional Playoff
COACH (RECORD): John Fox (63-49 in seven seasons with Panthers, 63-49 overall)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jeff Davidson
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ron Meeks
OFFENSIVE STAR: Steve Smith, WR (78 receptions, 6 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Julius Peppers, DE (51 tackles, 14.5 sacks)
OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 3rd rushing, 19th passing, 7th scoring
DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 20th rushing, 16th passing, 12th scoring
KEY ADDITIONS: DT Corvey Irvin (3rd Round, Georgia), DE/OLB Everette Brown (2nd Round, Florida State), DB Sherrod Martin (2nd Round, Troy), LS J.J. Jansen (from Packers)
KEY DEPARTURES: RB Nick Goings (released), WR D.J. Hackett (to Redskins), WR/RS Mark Jones (to Titans), OL Geoff Hangartner (to Bills), T Frank Omiyale (to Bears), OL Jeremy Bridges (released), DT Darwin Walker (not tendered), LB Adam Seward (to Colts), LB Donte' Curry (not tendered), CB Ken Lucas (to Seahawks), LS Jason Kyle (not tendered)
QB: After missing most of 2007 due to a right elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, Delhomme started every game last year and was solid. He threw for 3,288 yards and although his 15 touchdown passes were the fewest he has ever thrown in a season in which he played in all 16 games, so were his 12 interceptions. Of course, the 34-year-old came apart in the playoffs with his turnover-filled performance, just the latest mental hurdle Delhomme will have to overcome. While Delhomme appears locked in as Carolina's starter for the next few seasons, the No. 2 job is up for grabs between Josh McCown and Matt Moore. McCown likely has the edge due to experience, as he has made 31 career starts that includes nine with Oakland in 2007. Moore, meanwhile, has made three starts in two seasons.
RB: Whether you want to refer to them as "Smash and Dash" or "Double Trouble" (for the record, they prefer the latter after being accused of stealing the former by Titans running back LenDale White), DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart make up one of the top running back duos in the league. While the two figured to split carries after Stewart was taken in the first round of the 2008 draft, it was Williams who ended up getting the bulk of the work. All he did was lead the NFL with 20 touchdowns, notching a pair of four-TD games late in the season, while also setting a franchise record with 1,515 rushing yards. When Williams isn't leaving defenders behind with his wheels, the 235-pound Stewart is running through them. He played in all 16 games as a rookie and totaled 836 yards on the ground with 10 scores. The presence of Williams and Stewart made running back Mike Goodson a questionable fourth-round pick. Fullback Brad Hoover is in charge of clearing the way for "Double Trouble", and the 32-year-old also now has a protege to groom in fourth-round pick Tony Fiammetta (Syracuse).
WR/TE: The Panthers have a true No. 1 receiver in Steve Smith, who won't even let a training camp shoulder injury slow him down. Smith, who was suspended for the first two games of 2008 after punching Lucas during last year's camp, has gone over 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last four years, with his 1,421 yards last year good for the second-highest total of his career. Smith also hauled in six TD passes and averaged a career-best 18.2 yards per catch last season. Muhsin Muhammad was second on the club with 65 catches last year for 923 yards and five scoring catches. It was his best season since 2004 with the Panthers, when he made 93 catches for 1,405 yards with 16 receiving scores. Muhammad thrived in his return to the Panthers after spending 2005-07 with the Bears. With the release of WR D.J. Hackett, the Panthers will turn to 2007 second-round pick Dwayne Jarrett to fill the No. 3 role. Jarrett has yet to break out since being drafted out of USC, making just 16 catches in 16 games. Thanks to the inability to add depth, the fourth wide receiver spot will be awarded to either Ryne Robinson or Kenneth Moore. That might be bad news for the Panthers and Delhomme, as starting tight end Jeff King (21 receptions, 1 TD) is around for his blocking.
OL: Delhomme was only sacked 20 times last year and the Panthers were able to run wild on opponents, so it is probably a good thing that all five starters from last year's offensive line are back. They are led by Gross, a 2008 Pro Bowl selection who protects Delhomme's blind side along with left guard Travelle Wharton. Ryan Kalil returns to center, while Keydrick Vincent and Jeff Otah are the right guard and tackle, respectively. This will be the unit to watch in terms of health, as reserves Geoff Hangartner, Frank Omiyale and Jeremy Bridges are all gone. Mackenzy Bernadeau will likely be the top reserve, while Justin Geisinger was signed to back up at center.
DL: Peppers returns for the 2009 season, albeit at a hefty price. He just might be worth it though after posting 14 1/2 sacks last year, tied for fifth in the NFL. Though he campaigned to get himself out of town, it now appears he will be the club's starting right defensive end and shouldn't be any trouble in the locker room. Tyler Brayton (40 tackles, 4.5 sacks) started all 16 games last year on the other side and will be pushed by Charles Johnson (6 sacks), while 2009 second-round pick Everette Brown will be groomed to replace Peppers. Brown was taken 43rd overall in the draft after being projected by some as a Top-10 talent and the Panthers hope he was in fact a steal. Maake Kemoeatu (36 tackles) made 14 starts at defensive tackle, but he suffered a torn Achilles' tendon that ended his 2009 season prematurely. Nick Hayden will now start in the middle next to Damione Lewis (43 tackles, 3.5 sacks), while Kemoeatu's injury now means a pair of rookies will back up in Corvey Irvin (third round) and Marlon Favorite (undrafted).
LB: The Panthers hope to have Jon Beason (138 tackles, 3 INT) in the middle on Week 1, but a sprained left MCL might delay his start to the season. Beason was a Pro Bowl selection last year despite being in just his second season. He has started 16 games both years, but Dan Connor could see some early playing time if Beason's knee is still an issue. Connor is recovering from a knee injury that caused him to miss all but three games as a rookie last year. With Beason roaming in coverage, Thomas Davis (114 tackles, 3.5 sacks) will be free to challenge QBs in the backfield from the outside spot. Entering his 10th season, Na'il Diggs (54 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) is the senior starter of the group and will help mentor a young Carolina defense. This unit is the backbone of Carolina's defense.
DB: With Lucas gone after notching 60 tackles and two interceptions a year ago, Richard Marshall steps in as a full-time starter alongside Chris Gamble. A veteran of three years, Marshall (75 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) has started 14 games in his career. He'll need Gamble (93 tackles, 3 INT) to shut down the opposing team's No. 1, a role Meeks would be wise to give Gamble. Chris Harris (70 tackles, 1 INT) starts at strong safety and is the heavy hitter, while Charles Godfrey (61 tackles, 1 INT) started all 16 games in 2008 as a rookie out of Iowa. Godfrey did suffer a broken right hand during the preseason and it is unknown how long he will be out. Knowing they would need some depth, the Panthers drafted Sherrod Martin in the second round of this past draft. A Troy product, Martin can play either corner or safety. Dante Wesley will also try to earn some time as a reserve. Nate Salley and Quinton Teal back up the safety positions and have zero starts between the two of them. Carolina can ill-afford a major injury to this unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Thirty-nine year-old kicker John Kasay returns having made 28 of his 31 field-goal tries last year. His 130 points were also the second most in club history behind his 145 point total from 1996. Kasay, though, did not handle kickoffs for the first time in his career, giving way to 27-year-old Rhys Lloyd. Kasay shouldn't feel slighted though, as Lloyd led the NFL with 30 touchbacks last year, the most since the introduction of the K-Ball in 1999. The previous mark was 24, done twice by Olindo Mare. Jason Baker is the punter and he ranked sixth in the NFC last year with a gross average of 44.1 yards per kick. Though the Panthers sometimes use Smith to return kicks when they need a lift, Robinson should handle most of the return duties since Mark Jones was not brought back. J.J. Jansen is the long snapper after missing all of 2008 due to a torn left lateral collateral ligament.
PROGNOSIS: The Panthers are a tough team to judge. Returning nearly every starter should point to another 12-win season, or at least a second straight NFC South title, but a lot of things have to go right for that to happen. A big injury on the offensive or defensive line, or in the secondary could make all bets off since the club doesn't have adequate depth. The Panthers also have the joy of an unforgiving schedule that features 15 games against a team that finished .500 or better last year. In fact, the Panthers open up at home versus Philadelphia before road tests against Atlanta and Dallas (Monday night) earn them a Week 4 bye. With no real break on the schedule, the Panthers can't really afford to go limping into any game this year. The pieces are there for another playoff run, perhaps a deeper one this year, but everything has to come up in Carolina's favor. That just doesn't happen in the NFL, and the Panthers are likely to take a step back this year.
